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Newswise — Thomas Overton, professor of animal science and director of the PRO-DAIRY industry education program at Cornell University, comments on reports that low levels of radiation linked to the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan have been found in U.S. milk supplies.

Overton says:

“Any potential risk to human health from this is extremely small.”

“It looks like the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency are on it, and are doing a good job of pointing out that the levels are many thousands of times below any threshold for concern.”

“Iodine 131 has a half-life of eight days, which means that any elevation in the food supply – likely due to low levels of contamination from the atmosphere coming into contact with feed and water consumed by cows – will be very transient.”

NOTE: Cornell University has ISDN and televisions studios available for media interviews.